WWRD? (what will rudy do?)

So, let's see if I got this right. The governor creates a new position, Chief Education Officer, appointing an outsider, Rudy Crew who comes to Oregon with a questionable success rate. This is a classic shell game. Shift people and players around in an effort to obfuscate the truth: those we elected to take a stand and make tough choices, whether it be to overhaul tax policies or tackle root issues (Tier 1 PERS reform) are not up to the tasks at hand. Instead, Kitzhaber takes the easy route by hiring someone else to do and be what he cannot: The Hammer. Once again, we pay for a 'talking head'.

I'll applaud Mr. Crew if he is able to make any measurable difference in the stalemate to which Oregonians find themselves. There's got to be a more equitable solution to finance schools than to constantly turn to homeowners each election cycle. Are you listening, Mr. Crew?

The Oregonian's editorial (May 31) asks a very important question: "How will he effectively lead a conflict-averse, slow-moving, quietly stubborn state?" More importantly, how will he LEAVE our aforementioned state of education? I fail to see how hiring a veritable consultant is efficient or the critical connection for a system mired in politics which has already lost so much ground. If his position is "partly symbolic", who is he supposed to scare? Crew may be smart and provocative, full of cowboy metaphors, but if he is not supported by those who hired him--if his recommendations, however radical, are not implemented--then his time in the saddle here will be a rough ride, leaving us in the dust, no better off, while using precious tax dollars for his nearly $300,000. salary.